Voted as Las Vegas’ best attraction by a number of sites and journals, Speed - The Ride is definitely one of the best reasons to visit the city. This incredible, heart-stopping ride – the very first of its kind in the United States - takes passengers through several of the most insane twists, falls and speeds to truly bring them an experience of a lifetime.
The ride, designed by the well known attractions company, Premier Rides, begins in the popular NASCAR Café, situated at the Sahara Hotel & Casino complex on South Las Vegas Boulevard. After being strapped in well over the shoulder, passengers are plunged onto the tracks as linear induction motors use electromagnetic force to hurtle the coaster on its way. Within under 2 seconds, the coaster goes from 0 miles per hour to an incredible 35 miles per hour – one of the fastest speed changes in the world.
If passengers feel that the first curve that they turn is something to scream about, they should wait to see what other surprises Speed - The Ride has in store for them! Within a second, the coaster takes a corkscrew dive from above, plummeting with intensifying speed to 25 feet below ground into a dark, misty tunnel. If this experience doesn’t blur one’s senses, nothing will!
But there’s no resting in any tunnel… The coaster suddenly hurtles from 35 miles per hour to a frightening 70 miles per hour in two seconds flat, into a giant loop, that is as ear-shattering as it is heart-stopping, right through the Sahara Complex’s 200 foot marquee.
The next bend takes passengers up a steep 90 degree angle, 224-foot incline, and just as the coaster reaches the top, it suddenly reverses its route and takes everyone back the exact same way that they came – only this time in a backwards position! Ingenious engineering if ever there was!
Speed - The Ride runs along a track of 1,365 feet and lasts 45 seconds, although passengers claim that the ride feels much longer as they are suspended through time and space. There are a maximum of 24 people per ride sitting two abreast. The coaster reaches a maximum height (and a maximum drop!) of 224 feet and its maximum speed reaches 70 mph. It is important to note that, for safety reasons, anybody under 54 inches in height cannot purchase a ticket on this ride.
In the duration of the ride, photographs are taken and passengers can stop over and purchase their souvenir picture taken on one of the world’s most famous rides.
A single ride costs a nominal fee, although roller coaster fans who dare climb on again can enjoy several package deals, such as an all-day rides pass on Speed - The Ride and Cyber Speedway (in the same complex).
Speed - The Ride definitely complements the thrill and action of the city of Las Vegas and this is one ride that passengers will not forget for a very long time! |
